Treatment, therapy and night splints.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis

Last edited on January 20, 2009

One of the most common causes of heel and foot pain is from Plantar Fasciitis. If your feet ( or heel of foot) feels hot, has swelling or excessive pain, you may have Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation of the bottom of the foot or heel. The Bottom of the foot is known as the Plantar. Fascia is the soft tissue of the foot, or arch of the foot. The continued break down of the plantar fascia will be painful. Heel spur ( or Bone Spurs of the heel) are often confused with Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis is not always involved with heel spurs.

The common diagnostic methods ( x-rays, MRI ) are not always needed to determine weather you have Plantar Fasciitis, but is more useful to rule out other possible causes of the pain. Usually Plantar Fasciitis is more severe with the first steps of the day, or is more painful at the start of an activity, but will improve during the activity. Standing for long periods of time may also be painful. Pain from Plantar Fascitis may increase at the end of the day in the most extreme cases.

There is a lot of different reasons for Plantar Fasciitis to occur, and most of the time they work together to create the ailment. This condition can be caused by work related issues, such as prolonged work on hard floors. If you have improper training practices for sports, or extreme over use of the feet, can cause this ailment. You may also have physical weaknesses like flat feet that can lead to this problem.